PodCraft | How to Podcast & Craft a Fantastic Show

Okay, granted, having a top-of-the-range mic doesn't necessarily mean you'll have top-of-the-range content. But the various bits of equipment different folks are using to create audio can become an obsession for some podcasters. We know this because the Equipment section of our site is by far the most viewed and visited. Combine that with your average podcaster's love of stats, and that's what led to us running our first podcasting gear stats survey back in 2017/18.Well, that survey is back, and we want to see what the podcast equipment landscape looks like now, in 2019. Has anything changed in this bold new era where you can launch a media hosting service one morning, and sell it an hour later for $400 million? Take a minute or two to fill out the survey and help us find out. But it's not just hard data that could be your reward here. We've put together some great prizes which will be drawn and distributed at random amongst six lucky entrants. Platinum PrizeRode Procaster (XLR) OR Rode Podcaster (USB) – your choice! (worth ~$250)Or a $200 podcast equipment equipment budget on Amazon. Gold PrizeOne year's free membership to The Podcast Host Academy.That's our membership site where you can use our comprehensive catalog of courses and resources to plan, launch, and grow your podcast. In there, you can join in with our active community and take part in our regular live Q&A sessions. Silver PrizeSix month subscription to Alitu: The Podcast Maker App.With Alitu you can record your content, build your episode, and publish to your media host without having to learn the ins and outs of audio production. Bronze PrizesThree copies of Out on the Wire, by Jessica Abel. This book is a masterclass in audio storytelling, and an essential read for podcasters of all levels.  Survey Closes: 11:59pm Pacific Time, Tuesday 4th JuneTake the SurveySupport the show (https://pod.academy)

As another year draws to a close, we sit down to chat through the last 12 months at The Podcast Host Towers. What went well? What didn't? And what do we have planned for the future?In terms of big milestones this year, we had the long-awaited launch of Alitu - The Podcast Making App, the switch up of The Podcast Host Academy to an annual membership, the launch of our Podcast Launch Service, and we brought down the curtain on this first season of our space-science audio drama documentary podcast Hostile Worlds.We put out an updated version of season 1 of this very podcast during 2018 too. Now known as season 10, it's all about how to launch your first episode, and focuses on everything you need to do to get it out there.We've also been keen to take on highly-produced projects as part of our Podcast Production Service. This year we had the pleasure of working on Inside Indie Games, on behalf of the UK Games Fund, and The Converge Challenge Podcast. If you'd like to work with us on a highly-produced podcasting project of your own, then we'd love to hear from you.Colin talked through some of his highs and lows this year, from his Podcast movement and Inbound trips, as well as designing the Alitu interface, to his "failed" live video attempts, and the headache of trying to recruit new developers.In 2018 we also attempted to establish the Scottish Podcasters Meetup, but it didn't pick up the momentum we were hoping for, and we eventually gave up on it. There's still hope though, as Colin is talking to someone about potentially taking it over.On the industry-wide side of things, we tried to refrain from making any predictions (cliched, cynical, or otherwise), but gave a nod to the unsurprising fact that many great audio drama shows are now being developed for television.Finally, we'd like to wish you all the very best for the holiday period, and for 2019!Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Creating a 30 second promo trailer for your show is a great way to grow your audience. A trailer is a little "taster" for potential new listeners, and gives them an idea of the tone, feel, and content of the show. It's easy to consume, and easy to share too. On this episode we're going to listen to and offer feedback on some promo trailers that were created by members of The Podcast Host Academy as part of our monthly ($50 prize) competition. The shows are; The Postcard Academy - https://postcardacademy.co Tog & Thel - http://aducklingknits.com The Curious Parent - https://happyselfjournal.com/podcast High Heels & Heartache - http://highheelsandheartache.com Here, you'll learn more about the ways you can create a promo trailer that really works for you in promoting your show, and pulling in new listeners. Also mentioned; How to Make a Promo Trailer - http://thepodcasthost.com/promotrailer The Podcast Host Academy - https://www.thepodcasthost.com/academy Alitu: The Podcast Maker - https://alitu.com Hostile Worlds - http://hostileworlds.netSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

On this episode, we're talking niche. That's neeeesh, not nitch, but either way, it's all about getting really specific with your content offering. Karen Reyburn is our guest, and her whole business is built around this concept. She runs a creative agency, but for a particular niche: Accountants. On this episode you'll learn: What is a niche, exactly? And why it's not just an industry How to find your own niche, and be an audience magnet Can you go too small with a niche? Resources The Profitable Firm The Never Settle Podcast Alitu - the Podcast Maker appSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

By it's very nature, podcasting is storytelling. But what makes a story good, or interesting? Well, who better to give us a crash course on how to tell great stories than Jessica Abel, creator of the essential book and podcast series Out on the Wire. In this episode, the key things you'll learn are; How to capture good stories How to draw stories out of interviews How to use tools such as the X/Y Formula, the Focus Sentence, and the Story MatrixSupport the show (https://pod.academy)

Jon Ferrara was the founder of Goldmine, which was a customer management tool back in the day, but when he sold that company he didn’t stop thinking about connections, and networks. He kept an eye on the CRM market, and spotted the fact that they tended be pretty expensive or over complicated, or a bit […]Support the show

You can pour your heart and soul into making the best podcast possible. But simply hitting publish and taking the “if you build it, they will come” approach isn’t enough, sadly. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to optimise your show’s exposure and continually grow your audience with new listeners. And to talk […]Support the show (https://pod.academy)

Planning and launching your first podcast can be a steep learning curve. But once you’re actually putting episodes out there, the pitfalls are a little different. Now the battle is about keeping things consistent, sustainable, and enjoyable. So once you get past your first 20 episodes, what then? That’s what we’re going to help you […]Support the show

So far we’ve walked you through to the point where you’ve uploaded your first episode to your media host. At this stage, you have a podcast. But it still can’t actually be found in all the places people actually listen to podcasts. That’s an easy fix though, don’t worry! In this episode we’ll tell you […]Support the show (https://pod.academy)

So you’ve recorded your first podcast episode and now you’re ready to share it with the world. How exactly do you upload it though? In this episode we’ll give you a crash course on podcast websites and media hosting. Here you’ll learn what you need to publish a podcast episode, and the various options available […]Support the show (https://pod.academy)